US to pull 5,000 troops from Germany amid rising tensions with Berlin
Tensions between the US and Germany have risen after Washington announced the withdrawal of 5,000 troops from German bases. The move, confirmed on 1 May, comes alongside sharp exchanges between US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over Iran policy. German officials have reacted with a mix of resignation and calls for greater European defence independence.
On 1 May, the US formally declared it would pull 5,000 service members from Germany. The process is set to finish within the next six to twelve months. Currently, Germany hosts around 38,000 US troops, along with key command centres for US operations in Europe and Africa.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius described the withdrawal as predictable. He stressed that Europe must now take more responsibility for its own security. Germany has already announced plans to expand its armed forces, the Bundeswehr, from 185,000 to 260,000 troops. The troop announcement coincided with a public dispute over Iran. Merz criticised the US for lacking a clear 'exit strategy' in its confrontation with Tehran. In response, Trump accused the chancellor of tolerating the idea of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons. The US president then urged Merz to focus instead on resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The US troop reduction will reshape Germany’s military presence, with completion expected within a year. Meanwhile, Berlin’s push to expand its own forces signals a shift toward greater self-reliance in European defence. The exchange between Trump and Merz highlights ongoing divisions over foreign policy priorities.
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